'We’ve become a nanny state' over booing: Beveridge

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge believes “we’ve become a nanny state” with regards to footy fans booing at matches in recent days.

Fierce debate has raged both in the media and on social media about booing, but the 2016 premiership mentor actually saw the funny side of the Anzac Day post-match presentation when Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury and his coach Nathan Buckley were greeted by a chorus of boos during their speeches.

Three days earlier, Geelong champion Gary Ablett was subjected to booing during the Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn, but Beveridge said it was just part of the game.

“We’ve become a bit of a nanny state, really, haven’t we,” Beveridge said with a laugh at Melbourne Airport on Friday.

Advertisement

“I mean ‘Pendles’ [Pendlebury] is a champion and so is ‘Bucks’ [Buckley], but I must admit I did have a chuckle when after ‘Bucks’ sort of challenged whoever was booing that it wasn’t right and then they showed the Essendon crowd and the response was a harder boo. It was funny.

“I see the lighter side of it, I mean the game is tribal, both supporters of both teams are there absolutely emotionally drained at the end of the day and I just think booing is part of the game, it’s not ideal, but it’s just there.”

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says booing is part of footy's tribalism.Credit:AAP

The Bulldogs face Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night and the Dockers are in hot form, having achieved an early contender for upset of the season last round with a stunning victory over Greater Western Sydney in Canberra.

Beveridge said it would take a total team effort in Perth for the Bulldogs to snap their three-game losing run and return to the winners’ circle.

Loading

“They were impressive last week and in all of their games they kept their opposition to minimal scorelines so they’re defending pretty well,” Beveridge said.

“They’ve got a good balance of speed and grunt across the ground and obviously some of those forwards are starting to show up so we have to be even, we can’t rely on one or two [players] – we’re not in that category.

“If we get an even spread across our 22 ... they all just have to dig in and bring their best and if we do, we give ourselves every chance but Freo are a strong outfit.”

Beveridge was also hopeful there would be extra stimulus for his players to find a spiritual aspect for the game by acknowledging and honouring “the heroes that have defended our country” with Anzac Day having taken place on Thursday.

By bringing Jackson Trengove back in for his first game of the season, the Dogs have acknowledged that heading into games with smaller teams hasn’t worked in the past three weeks (all losses) and Beveridge was hoping his inclusion would bring about a change of luck for his team.

“Now we feel like we need at least one more tall in to support either end really and to give [ruckman] Tim [English] a chop out as well,” he said.

“As far as strategy goes, we’ll start a certain way and hopefully that works out but I think you’ll see some change where players are playing forward and back to make sure we galvanise our defence a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Beveridge was hopeful that the luckless Lin Jong would be able to start playing again soon after having his appendix removed on Tuesday night.